Extension-crutch.



A. A. ANDERSON.

EXTENSION CRUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1917.

1,262,995. Patented A'pl 16, 1918.

HTTQHNBYE ALBERT A. ANDERSON, OF NORTH FOND DU LAG, WISCONSIN.

EXTENSION-CRUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918..

Application filed May 28, 1917. Serial No. 171,374.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT A. Annnnson, acitizen of the United States, residing at North Fond du Lac, in thecounty of Fond du Lac and State of /Visconsin, have invented a certainnew and useful Improvement in llxtension-Crutches, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to an improvement in crutches, and moreparticularly is directed to an arrangement of parts whereby, with outsacrificing neatness or durability of construction the crutch readilymay be adjusted to suit the requirements or preference of any person whomay use the same. More specifically the improved crutch of my inventioncomprises in combination with a saddle or rest and the usual bows asubstantially V shaped fitting the ends of which are conformed andarranged to receive and to be secured to the lower ends of the crutchbows. Formed in the aforesaid V shaped fitting is a vertical cylindricalpassage the axis of which substantially bi-sects the angle between thearms of said fitting, said vertical passage arranged freely to receive arod or tube which at its lower end carries a suitable shoe or tip, andat its upper end is threaded through a transverse bar disposed above theaforesaid V shaped fitting and extending from one of the crutch bows tothe other. By virtue of this arrangement it is possible to adjust theaforesaid rod or tube with respect to the crutch bows and thereby varythe effective length of the crutch.

These and other features of my improved crutch will appear as thisdescription progresses.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved crutch of myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the lower end of the crutchshowing more clearly the several parts whereby the effective length ofthe crutch is lengthened or shortened as desired; and

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective illustrating a modified form of V shapedfitting.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, at 55 I have illustrated the bows or sidepieces of a crutch which are attached to and extend downwardly from therest or saddle 6. It will be noted that the rest or saddle herein shownis provided with a portion 6 which extends considerably above the upperends of the bows, the purpose of this portion 6 of the saddle being toprevent the saddle from slipping from under the arm of the user when thecrutch is in use. It will be understood that both ends of the saddle maybe conformed to extend upwardly if desired. The lower ends of the bows55 are provided with reduced portions fitted within the hollow arms 77of a fitting 8 which in Figs. 1 and 3 is shown as an integral casting, aplurality of screws 9-9 being employed to retain the lower ends of thehows within the hollow arms 77, as is most clearly illustrated in Fig.3. Formed in the casting 8 is a vertical cylindrical passage 10 the axisof which substantially bi-sects the angle between the hollow arms 7-7.Extending freely through the passage 10 is a member 11 which may be inthe form of a solid rod or in the form of a tube, as shown in Fig. 3.The rod or tube 11 is provided at its lower end with a shoe or tip 12and at its upper end is provided with screw threads 13. Intermediate itsends the rod or tube is knurled as illustrated at 14: to facilitateadjustment of the rod or tube.

The upper end of the rod or tube 11 is threaded through a transverse bar15 the ends of which are seated in notches formed in the side bows 5-5and are retained in said notches by screws 1616. It will thus be seenthat the rod or tube 11 may be adjusted with respect to the bows 5 5 bygrasping the knurled portion 14 of the rod or tube and screwing the sameupwardly or downwardly with respect to the transverse bar 15 and fitting8. If desired the fitting 8 may be provided with a set screw 17 toprevent turning of the rod or tube 11 after it has been suitablyadjusted with respect to the fitting and the transverse bar 15.

A handle 18 is also arranged to be adjusted with respect to the sidebows 5-5, the said handle being provided at each of its ends with a pairof clampin members 19 m arranged to embrace the a jacent one of the bowsEach of the clamping members 19 is hingedly connected to the handle 18as shown at 20 and is provided with an outwardly projecting lug arrangedto be engaged by a screw 21 whereby to draw the clamping members of eachpair together. It will thus be seen that by loosening the screws 2121the handle 18 readily may be adjusted to any position along the bows 55.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modified form of V shaped fitting which.may be employed if desired. The fitting shown in this figure comprisestwo substantially symmetrically dished sheet metal members 22 and 23arranged to be welded together to form a fitting substantially like thecast fitting shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Suitable apertures 24-24 are formedin each sheet metal halt whereby to secure it to the side bows. will beunnecessary to describe this modified fitting in detail as its purposeis identical with the fitting heretofore described.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An extension crutch comprising in combination with a saddle and apair of bows depending therefrom, a substantially V shaped fitting thearms of which are conformed to receive the lower ends of said bows, avertical passage in said fitting the axis of which substantially bisectsthe angle between the arms of the fitting, a rod extending through saidpassage, said rod threaded at its upper end, and a transverse bar intowhich the upper end of said rod is threaded, said transverse bar seatedin said bows and disposed above said fitting.

2. An extension crutch comprising in combination with a saddle and bowsdepending therefrom, a substantially V shaped fitting the arms of whichare conformed to receive the lower ends of said bows, a rod extendingthrough said fitting between the arms thereof, and a transverse bardisposed between the bows and above said fitting, the upper end of saidrod being threaded into said transverse bar.

3. An extension crutch comprising in e0m bination with a saddle and bowsdepending therefrom, a fitting arran ed to embrace the lower ends ofsaid bows, said fitting con1- prising two symmetrical substantially Vshaped dished sheet metal. halves which pro- 50 vide two upwardlyprojecting hollow arms, and a vertical passage the axis of whichsubstantially bisects the angle between said hollow arms, a transversebar extending between the bows and disposed above said fitting, and arod extending through the vertical passage in said fitting and havingits upper end threaded in said transverse bar.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 25 day of May, A.D. 1917.

ALBERT A. ANDERSON.

lVitnesses JAMES A. PULLEN, Bnn'rna M. PULLEN.

Castes of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C."

